Fiery hues paint the sky over Via Vista in Canyon Crest, closing the day with a stunning display. (Bob Sirotnik)
Wednesday Gazette: April 2, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday!
Though The Gazette is now in its fifth year of publication, yesterday was a fun milestone that marked the second anniversary of quitting my job (at a company I co-founded!) to go all in on building this newsroom.
This quote from Scottish mountaineer W. H. Murray gave me the nudge I needed to take a big risk, and I hope it speaks to one of you today:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.”
If any of you reading this right now are considering something ambitious, please indulge this encouragement: Do it – boldness precedes magic!
Before I leave you, I’ve got two fun opportunities to share with Gazette readers:
The Psychology of Dogs tour stops in Riverside next Friday, April 11, at the Fox, where dog behavior expert Alexander Lopez, founder of California’s DogFather Dog Institute, will equip you with the tools to foster a deeper connection with your four-legged companion. Tickets start at $35, but Gazette readers can get free tickets (just pay Ticketmaster’s .75 cent processing fee).
April Artswalk is Heavy on the Exhibition Openings
From student portrait projects to Arthouse Showcases there’s plenty of opportunity to interact with art and artists.
Juan Navarro next to his artistic contribution to his Hecho en Park Ave show at the Cheech. (Ken Crawford)
This one is jam packed. If you only get to one or two ArtsWalks a year, or if you’ve never been, this should be worthy of your effort. The commitment of the city to foster art and artists is really starting to show results. The Arts Magnet at Ramona is turning out excellence across the disciplines, and the RAM/Cheech Artist In Residency program gave us Juan and The Eastside Arthouse. What started as a monthly event heavily focused on art vendors has grown to include an impressive showcase of Art institutions in the city. Here are a few of my “Must-See” for the month.
Condron Expands: Beloved Coffee Company Opens Pizza Spot on Sunnyside
Local coffee favorite launches new culinary venture two doors down from original location.
The Outpost by Condron is a charming new pizza cafe on Sunnyside Dr. in Midtown. (Ken Crawford)
The popular Condron Coffee brand is branching out with a new pizza restaurant called The Outpost, opening April 4 just two doors down from their Midtown coffee shop in Riverside.
Driving the news: Owner Ryan Condron is bringing the same focus on quality and service that made the coffee shop successful to this new venture, featuring pizza, salads, and desserts.
The Outpost will offer a focused menu with five salads, six desserts, and six pizzas, along with beer and wine.
Why it matters: This expansion demonstrates the strength of the Condron brand and its loyal customer base in the local food scene.
The new restaurant maintains the minimalist charm and attention to quality that defines Condron Coffee.
The big picture: The Outpost's opening comes after a two-year process of planning, permitting, and construction.
Manager Jana Taina expresses excitement about finally opening after the long process.
What's next: The Outpost, located at 3692 Sunnyside Dr., will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., offering locals a new dining option with the Condron stamp of excellence.
The success of the Farm House debut indicates Riverside may be ready for more family entertainment venues.
The Allah-Las played to a packed yet relaxed crowd for a memorable debut at the Farm House. (Ken Crawford)
Riverside's new Farm House Collective opens to enthusiastic crowds, filling a void in the city's entertainment landscape with a family-friendly venue offering professional amenities.
Driving the news: The venue's opening day attracted thousands, demonstrating strong demand for a safe, clean entertainment space in Riverside.
While some stores weren't ready and logistical challenges emerged, these are typical growing pains for a major venue launch.
Why it matters: The collaboration between the Bailey family and the City creates a space that serves both community needs and business goals.
This success could inspire similar investments across Riverside, addressing the long-standing need for entertainment infrastructure.
The big picture: The Farm House Collective represents a milestone for the community, despite not achieving a full grand opening as envisioned.
What's next: The true test comes in the months ahead, but the opening weekend suggests the venue has planted in fertile ground.
The Farm House Collective's success could pave the way for more community-focused entertainment spaces in Riverside.
Women’s pilot organization, The Ninety-Nines, volunteered 250 hours to paint the navigational tool on the tarmac.
The new compass rose on the tarmac just outside of the Airport Cafe. (Ken Crawford)
The San Gabriel Valley Ninety-Nines, a chapter of the International Women Pilots organization, has completed a new compass rose at Riverside Municipal Airport. The functional art piece, visible from the terminal deck and Airport Cafe patio, serves as a crucial navigational aid for pilots.
Driving the news: The volunteer group contributed 250 hours to create the painted design, which includes standard compass points and degree markings for aircraft compass calibration.
This addition continues the Ninety-Nines' long tradition of creating navigational aids at airports, dating back to the 1930s.
Why it matters: Compass roses are essential for aviation safety, allowing pilots to ensure their onboard instruments accurately show direction.
The precise alignment with magnetic north requires careful planning and execution.
The big picture: The Ninety-Nines, founded in 1929 with Amelia Earhart as its first president, has a history of marking airports through the National Air Marking Program.
What's next: The San Gabriel Valley chapter plans to maintain the new compass rose at Riverside Airport as part of their ongoing commitment to aviation safety.
California Baptist University will join The Big West Conference as its tenth full member beginning July 1, 2026, transitioning from the Western Athletic Conference with 19 NCAA Division I sports and making Riverside the third US city with two conference schools.
New accountability measures introduced by Governor Gavin Newsom tie $920 million in homelessness funding to strict performance benchmarks, allowing the state to withhold funds from communities failing to demonstrate progress.
Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino was named the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce's Nonprofit of the Year for 2024, recognized for its hunger-relief programs that included opening a new Hunger Resource Center and serving over 200,000 residents throughout the Inland Empire.
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